This autumn so far
Nov. 22nd, 2011 02:40 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
alt_sally_anneI realised the other day I've hardly written in my journal this year. It's because I've been so busy, of course. But I thought I should set down what I've been up to, because I quite like looking back at old entries.
I'm taking all my required courses this year plus Ancient Runes, Dark Arts, and Care of Magical Creatures. There've been a number of changes, though, because the teachers got a bit moved around after Mr Professor Carrow left. Miss Professor Carrow still teaches Dark Arts, of course, but Professor Brutka (who used to teach Creatures) is teaching Transfiguration, and Professor Grubbly-Plank (who is Susan Bones' aunt, I think!) is teaching Care of Magical Creatures.
I already liked Professor Brutka. He's a foreigner who moved here a few years ago -- I think Draco met him on his trip to France. His English is quite good, though (thank goodness, I had no idea until all the Durmstrang and Beauxbatons students came here just how difficult it could be to understand a heavy accent!) Anyway, I thought I'd miss having him teaching Creatures but I quite like having him teaching Transfiguration and I like Professor Grubbly-Plank quite a lot and she's also an excellent teacher.
I like Ancient Runes in part because we've gotten into quite a bit of historical information. And history really is interesting, when it's not Binns teaching it. Learning about how ancient wizards lived and the earliest developments in magic is really quite interesting, and runes sometimes come in handy even now. (For instance, there's a rune against losing things that I tried inscribing on my book bag and I don't think it's just my imagination that I've had an easier time keeping track of my quills.)
Getting to know students from the other wizarding schools has also been quite interesting. The Durmstrang students are staying in Slytherin, so our common room has been quite full in the evenings. I played some cards with one of the young men from Beauxbatons, Justin Finch-Fletchley -- no language barrier there, fortunately!
The First Task for the Triwizard Tournament was over the weekend. Each of the challengers had to steal an egg out of a dragon's nest. I knew the tasks would be difficult but I didn't know they would be quite so dangerous. Harry was brilliant! The others, well, everyone got their egg but I thought Harry's way was the most impressive (he used his broom. BRILLIANTLY.) I can't wait to see the second task! (Though I imagine the challengers are glad enough for the gap between tasks, to prepare.)
I'm taking all my required courses this year plus Ancient Runes, Dark Arts, and Care of Magical Creatures. There've been a number of changes, though, because the teachers got a bit moved around after Mr Professor Carrow left. Miss Professor Carrow still teaches Dark Arts, of course, but Professor Brutka (who used to teach Creatures) is teaching Transfiguration, and Professor Grubbly-Plank (who is Susan Bones' aunt, I think!) is teaching Care of Magical Creatures.
I already liked Professor Brutka. He's a foreigner who moved here a few years ago -- I think Draco met him on his trip to France. His English is quite good, though (thank goodness, I had no idea until all the Durmstrang and Beauxbatons students came here just how difficult it could be to understand a heavy accent!) Anyway, I thought I'd miss having him teaching Creatures but I quite like having him teaching Transfiguration and I like Professor Grubbly-Plank quite a lot and she's also an excellent teacher.
I like Ancient Runes in part because we've gotten into quite a bit of historical information. And history really is interesting, when it's not Binns teaching it. Learning about how ancient wizards lived and the earliest developments in magic is really quite interesting, and runes sometimes come in handy even now. (For instance, there's a rune against losing things that I tried inscribing on my book bag and I don't think it's just my imagination that I've had an easier time keeping track of my quills.)
Getting to know students from the other wizarding schools has also been quite interesting. The Durmstrang students are staying in Slytherin, so our common room has been quite full in the evenings. I played some cards with one of the young men from Beauxbatons, Justin Finch-Fletchley -- no language barrier there, fortunately!
The First Task for the Triwizard Tournament was over the weekend. Each of the challengers had to steal an egg out of a dragon's nest. I knew the tasks would be difficult but I didn't know they would be quite so dangerous. Harry was brilliant! The others, well, everyone got their egg but I thought Harry's way was the most impressive (he used his broom. BRILLIANTLY.) I can't wait to see the second task! (Though I imagine the challengers are glad enough for the gap between tasks, to prepare.)
I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up To No Good
Date: 2011-11-22 09:04 pm (UTC)Re: I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up To No Good
Date: 2011-11-22 09:59 pm (UTC)Grubbly-Plank is good, isn't she? I thought it was going to be naff to have a witch teaching Creatures because I figured we wouldn't get to study anything very big or interesting, but Fire-crabs are wiznift and dangerous, too! And it was great how she talked about the difference between crabs' fire and dragons'. Awesome, yeah?
Gotta say, though, I'm thinking I should have dropped Runes. I mean, it's all right, but I don't really see why I need to know this stuff. I thought there'd be more useful ones for protection or for getting back at people or whatever. I mean, after we used that insect Rune on Patil, I thought Runes would be ace. Guess I'm not as interested in that sort of history: how they used Runes for planting and harvesting and attracting mammoths and whatever. Doesn't seem very, I dunno, connected to stuff that's useful to me.
Re: I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up To No Good
Date: 2011-11-23 03:17 am (UTC)I don't know why you don't like Runes. There are all sorts of interesting applications, even for the stuff like repelling mammoths. The most interesting part for me is thinking of ways people without wands could use them. I wonder if people in the mudblood camps pass information about runes around? I mean obviously you can't use a big obvious one but for simple things, I tried the healing one when I had a headache last week just by tracing it on my forehead and it worked. It wouldn't do much if you'd had a limb hacked off but it worked well for headache.
Re: I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up To No Good
Date: 2011-11-23 03:32 am (UTC)Was it for repelling mammoths? I thought it was attracting, so they could hunt them. Huh. Guess I got that wrong in my essay, then. Probably got most of it wrong.
I got really good marks on my essay for Brutka, though. And I didn't even ask Bundy to look it over. She's not better than me at Transfig, but she always tells me when I say stuff wrong.
So I heard the Durmstrang side were cross about something they said the dragon handlers did with Krum's Fireball. Have you heard them talking about it? Oh. And did you see their Headmaster up in the stands with the Malfoys and all the school governors and Ministry people? During the task. Looked like he was chatting up Mrs Malfoy. Wonder if that'll turn up in the gossip mags?
Re: I Solemnly Swear That I Am Up To No Good
Date: 2011-11-23 04:10 am (UTC)I didn't notice their Headmaster during the tasks, I was much more interested in the dragons!
Oh and there were two charms, one for attracting animals you want to hunt, one for repelling animals that might cause problems, and mammoths would be both, wouldn't you think? I'm sure your essay was fine, at least if you remembered to mention the cave paintings, did you remember to mention the cave paintings? She went on about them for most of an entire class last week.
(no subject)
Date: 2011-11-23 04:05 am (UTC)I say, I rather think I've picked up more than a word or two of German, with all the Durmstang students but they do seem a rather serious lot, don't they, what?
Have you been working with Hydra on languages, then? Only I know she and her cousin got hold of a German book at the start of term and I believe you two get on, what?
Those dragons, though - now that I see what sorts of surprises they have in store for the champions, I'm well content to sit on the sidelines and watch, eh! I say, it's bally well for the older ones but I'm well impressed with Marvolo--well, everyone is, of course, coming up with his broom like that--and when Krum didn't even consider it.
Perks, have you someone to walk down to Hogsmeade at the weekend? Only I thought it might be jolly to go with someone who's been before. JP wants to come as well, so you needn't think I'm asking you out, or anything. Well, that is to say--not that one wouldn't. Ask you, I mean. If one wanted to do.
Oh, bother. I've muffed it, haven't I? Well. It's all right if you don't want a couple of foreigners tagging along, I quite understand.
(no subject)
Date: 2011-11-23 04:18 am (UTC)As far as languages go let me think, what have I learnt to say in German? 'Drachen,' I figured that one out over the weekend. Also 'besen.' Oh and 'hexenmeister,' I quite like that one, it sounds like 'master of hexes' which sounds pretty sorcerous.
I may just be bad at languages. Maybe I should see if Hydra would let me have a look at her book.
(no subject)
Date: 2011-11-23 05:57 am (UTC)Right, well, perhaps Saturday then? We could meet in the entrance hall, I suppose. Does anyone else usually accompany you? Only that would be fine, I mean, we could all go in a group, do you see.
(no subject)
Date: 2011-11-23 06:02 am (UTC)The entrance hall is probably easiest. It's usually just me and Pansy when we set out, though sometimes we fall in with others on the way, it all depends.
(no subject)
Date: 2011-11-23 01:44 pm (UTC)Saturday in the entrance hall sounds smashing, see you then!
Private message to Justin Finch-Fletchley
Date: 2011-11-23 06:08 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-11-23 04:22 am (UTC)I still think that some people might feel that it was a bit cruel to taunt the dragons by raiding their nests, but I suppose if the people who keep the dragons said it was okay, then it must be.
From,
Hydra
(no subject)
Date: 2011-11-23 04:39 am (UTC)I don't think that was on, rather, since he lost points for it. Though one would think the handlers might have taken that possibility into account, what?
I say, have they told you about the holidays yet? What's planned for those of us who are staying? P Froissart said it was going to be bally marvellous but he wouldn't say just what's to happen.
-Justin
(no subject)
Date: 2011-11-23 04:44 am (UTC)I was trying not to lookThey are worth a rather lot and yes, the handlers might have thought to put some kind of spell on them so that they would be protected. But maybe you can't do that with dragon's eggs.I haven't been told much, but there will probably be a feast, because there was for those of us who stayed last year. It's nice to be in the castle at Christmas. I didn't mind it. Maybe I'll see if I can stay here instead of going home this year, too.
From,
Hydra
(no subject)
Date: 2011-11-23 04:54 am (UTC)What is Christmas like here? I've never stayed at school over holidays. My mother always wants me home. That's not possible this year, of course.
(no subject)
Date: 2011-11-23 05:00 am (UTC)The castle feels quieter, and larger, and you can really explore it if you want. And since it's Christmas it feels cheery and cosy because they put up decorations and play music, and all the fireplaces have great roaring fires. Sometimes you end up talking to people you normally wouldn't, too, because there are much fewer people than usual.
From,
Hydra
(no subject)
Date: 2011-11-23 01:48 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-11-23 04:41 am (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2011-11-23 04:45 am (UTC)You're luckyYes, it's a very intellectual subject.From,
Hydra
Private message to Hydra Lestrange
Date: 2011-11-23 04:50 am (UTC)Re: Private message to Hydra Lestrange
Date: 2011-11-23 04:51 am (UTC)From,
Hydra
private message to Sally Anne
Date: 2011-11-23 04:50 am (UTC)What a strange way to act. Maybe he's trying to avoid some of those other Beauxbatons boys. I don't think they much like him.
From,
Hydra
Re: private message to Sally Anne
Date: 2011-11-23 04:52 am (UTC)grabbingbeing a rude git.But he might just be trying to avoid some of his classmates. Or maybe he thinks if he DID ask me on a proper date people would tease and he doesn't like being teased.
Re: private message to Sally Anne
Date: 2011-11-23 04:57 am (UTC)I think JP is the only classmate he is friends with, that I've noticed, anyway. Anyway, I suppose you will find out if he meant it as a date or not when you walk to Hogsmeade with him.
From,
Hydra
Re: private message to Sally Anne
Date: 2011-11-23 04:59 am (UTC)I hadn't realised he had so few friends at his school. I wonder if they don't like him because he's English?
Re: private message to Sally Anne
Date: 2011-11-23 05:05 am (UTC)I'm supposed to try to make Harry fancy me, which is hard to imagine. Him fancying anyone at all, I mean.
I don't know if it's because Justin is English or not. I've seen them with him and it mostly seems as if they just know he'll never fight back, and they get a laugh out of it.
From,
Hydra
Re: private message to Sally Anne
Date: 2011-11-23 05:15 am (UTC)sort of like Ronone of those boys who doesn't seem to really notice that some of his classmates are girls.What are you even supposed to do? You can't MAKE someone fancy you.
Re: private message to Sally Anne
Date: 2011-11-23 05:23 am (UTC)Pretty daft, isn't it?
From,
Hydra
Re: private message to Sally Anne
Date: 2011-11-23 05:35 am (UTC)I don't know if I'd call it DAFT but
If he doesn't eventually come round and decide to fancy you I hope you don't think it's YOUR fault!
Re: private message to Sally Anne
Date: 2011-11-23 05:41 am (UTC)I don't even know if I fancy him, which makes it hard to make myself try. I like him a lot as a friend, though.
From,
Hydra
Re: private message to Sally Anne
Date: 2011-11-23 05:50 am (UTC)He is a very nice person and a good friend, at least. It would probably be worse if you were supposed to make someone horrid fancy you.
Re: private message to Sally Anne
Date: 2011-11-23 05:56 am (UTC)From,
Hydra
Re: private message to Sally Anne
Date: 2011-11-23 05:58 am (UTC)I wish he at least paid more attention to you. Maybe he will when he gets a little older. Some boys are late bloomers, that's what they told us in the Sisters in Witchcraft.
Re: private message to Sally Anne
Date: 2011-11-23 06:09 am (UTC)I think all the boys my own age are definitely late bloomers. They're getting taller but can still be so embarrassing. I suppose that's what "late bloomer" means, that you act like a child for longer than you ought.
From,
Hydra
Re: private message to Sally Anne
Date: 2011-11-23 06:12 am (UTC)Re: private message to Sally Anne: I SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I AM UP TO NO GOOD
Date: 2011-11-23 05:59 am (UTC)I wish you could tell Harry he doesn't deserve you if he keeps ignoring how nice to him you are, and go find yourself a boy in Hufflepuff or Gryffindor who pays attention to you and makes you happy. Someone like Neville. Or Ernie. Or even Linus Moon.
I wish you could be on the lock.